Sky Blue FC forward Leah Galton has certainly been turning heads in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) this season, and her electric play has now led the Harrogate native to receiving her first call-up to the senior England Women’s National Team. Lionesses head coach Mark Sampson made the move official today by naming Galton to his 23-player roster for a week-long training camp that begins on Sunday.

“We are absolutely delighted for Leah in her receiving this call-up to the senior England National Team,” said Christy Holly, Sky Blue FC head coach. “Leah is a fantastic player who has dedicated herself to improving all elements of her game, which she has clearly shown throughout the NWSL season for us at Sky Blue FC. This call-up is a very important step in her development as a player, and we fully expect her to showcase her abilities on the international level the same way that she has done since arriving here in New Jersey.”

Galton has represented England at the U-17 and U-19 levels, also playing a key role for its U-23 side at the La Manga Tournament this past March. Sky Blue FC selected her with the no. 13 overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft after the 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist registered 122 career points at Hofstra University, a program record. She also earned Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year accolades over her last three seasons at Hofstra, the only player in CAA history to do so.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Leah into the group,” stated Mark Sampson, England Women’s National Team head coach. “She, like Rachel Daly before her, has been a player on our radar for a long time. She was the stand out player for our Under-23 group in La Manga, is playing regularly at a very competitive level and has earned her chance to come in and show what she can do at this level.”

The Lionesses will meet for this training camp at St Georges Park in Staffordshire on Sunday, remaining there for five days before moving to Bisham Abbey in Berkshire next Thursday for two days. The camp is intended to begin England’s preparations for next summer’s UEFA Women’s Euros. The Lionesses will next play when they host Estonia on Sept. 15th at Meadow Lane in Nottingham before traveling to Leuven to face Belgium on Sept. 20th.

After missing the first five games of the 2016 NWSL season to finish up her education at Hofstra, Galton has been an instrumental piece of the Sky Blue FC attack. She has made seven starts over 10 appearances, scoring three goals (tied for team-best) and registering three assists (second best on team) despite missing one-third of the 2016 campaign.

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